Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-13
WICHITA, KANSAS.
The Pride and Peerless Princess Of the
Plains.

Of the west and the subject OF these few
remarks, is located in the southern part
of Kansas at the confluence of the Little
and Arkansas rivers, where it is evident
that dame nature barred her powerful
arms to make the most wonderful as well
as the most perfect of her earthly work,
for here in the very heart of the country
known as the Great American Desert"
snugly nestled mid the autumnal flowers
of sunny Kansas is the metropolis of the
southwest, the PEERLESS Princess of the
Plains. Twenty years ago naught
met the anxious gaze Of the dar-
ing pioneer in this country, but the
fiower-covered level plains. dotted here
and there by the vast herds Of browsing
buffalo, molested only by the arrows of
the relentless Indian tribes, then upon
their loved hunting ground, in mythical
tradition, second only TO the Happy
Hunting Grounds of the Indian belief.
Twenty years since upon the broad prai
ries the spectre gaumt wolves howied
fiercely about the lonely cabin of the
homesteader and after the belated trav-
eler and lonely enough was it to him
treading his way DER painless plains
pursued even by the weird echoes of the
nocturnal pack. Here early settlers
were compelled to watch the buffalo
from their growing crops by day, and
even then many fields were destroyed by
the tramping hosts, now fast disappear
ing from the country.
Although no Ploctus foretold the
future existance of Wichita and its fu-
ture commercial greatness, it is never
theless, well authenticated fact that
it is city, and one rivaling the eastern
cities. In the wholesale and cattle trades,
Kansas City and st. Louis find it no
mean rival, but as one gradually under
mining the foundation Of their prosper
ity and future growth. Perhaps it is
one of the finest sights one can, imagine
fully realized to ascend some of the
commanding towers, or to look from the
summit of College Hill down upon the
magical city; upon all sides from you
the sound of the hammer and saw are
plainly telling the story Of construction,
to the right and left. to the front and
rear the framework Of beautiful homes
intermingle with those yet unpainted
and with those upon which the freshly
applied coats are yet undried. Down to
the right and left may be seen innumera-
bic smokestacks, gloomy, tall, dimly out
lined against the blue background of the
western sky, from which ascend dark
clouds of coal smoke, portraying to the
mind of the admiring tourist but vague
idea of the awful heat in the seething
furnaces far below. Not here as in Find
lay are the engines supplied by natural
gas, but from eastern coal fields. Be
yond the gloomy intricacy of bust
ness emporiums the great Arkansas
river raves ceaselesslv in it's wide
though fettered channel, spanned
here and there by numerous bridges be-
longing to the city and various railroad
companies. From College Hill one can
look down upon city not only OF houses
and inhabitants, but of varied and ila-
portant industries, life and energy. By a
great many eastern people this city is
supposed upon some mythical virtue to
base it's transient boom. This is surely
very wrong and erroneous idea, which
should not be longer entertained by any
careful reader. The valley of the Ar
kansas has long been noted for its fer
tility and productiveness, and not only
for that, but also for its
genial and healthy climate. cool,
pleasant summer nights, and mild win
tiers. This may have been an important
incentive at first for emigration from the
more sleepy cities and towns of the East.
But as time passed on it became plainly
evident to even the more incredulOus
observer and business man that Wichita
was rightly located to become the future
railroad center, the wholesale and sup
ply city of the Southwest.
Westward the course of the Empire
takes its way, and as magnificent cities
NAV stud the shores of eastern rivers
and lakes, 50 will the near future know
the plains aud valleys of the West
adorned by populous emporiums of COM
merce and trade.
During the year 1870 tthe ground upon
which Wichita now sands was home
steaded for 81. % per acre, with no out
look for railroad. Today it is the site
upon which city of $4,000 inhabitants
is built. with seven lines of independent
railroads in actual operation and two
more building, giving to the city more
railroads to the number of inhabitants
than any other city in the whole nation.
Important among the latter roads to
reach the city is the Rock Island which
was built to that point in July of the
present year, placing Wichita on
through line to Chicago, as well as all
points south and east.
Nor are the manufacturing interests Of
this place to be considered as an unim-
portant factor in its future stability and
growth. 1t is in the manufacturing
establishments, necessary for the support
of so large an inland city. that eastern
people are wont TO attribute the general
deficiency of this place: but when it is
remembered that the great pine forests
of Arkansas are within easy possession
By the manufacturer. and that the i'm
mense coal fields of this state are but
comparatively short distance from here.
Wichita's manufacturing facilities are as
flattering as those of other western
cities not more advantageousiv sit
uated. During 1885 there were
III manufacturing establishments
employing more than 1,2S6 men, to say
nothing of the much larger and more
important concerns established here
since January. 81, of which we might
mention the Burton car works, the Gil
bert plow works and the watch. factory.
employing 1000 $50 and 400 men re-
spectively. Had Wichita but two or
three lines of railroad for competition.
it might then be poor field for factories
and mills. bllt with nine lines for conne-